Weight gain – unintentional: when to get help

1. 1

   Is any of this happening now?

   Call 911

   Call emergency services now if weight gain or swelling occurs with:

   • Severe trouble breathing or difficulty speaking in full sentences
   • Chest pain, fainting, confusion, or blue or grey lips
   • Coughing up pink or frothy fluid
   Other emergency signs, for anyone

   • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
   • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
   • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
   • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
   • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
   • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
   • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
   • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these
2. 2

   Is any of this happening?

   Be seen today

   Seek same-day medical advice if you have rapid weight gain with new or worsening breathlessness, marked leg swelling, much less urine than usual, or rapidly increasing abdominal swelling.

   If you are pregnant or recently gave birth, seek urgent care for sudden swelling with a severe headache, vision changes, pain below the ribs, or breathing difficulty.

   These can be warning signs of a serious pregnancy-related condition.

   And for anyone, someone who:

   • is getting rapidly more short of breath, or has gained several pounds in a few days with swelling
   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these
3. 3

   Does any of this apply?

   Book an appointment

   Book a routine appointment if the gain continues without a clear explanation, is affecting your health or daily life, or began after a medicine change.

   Arrange follow-up if it comes with persistent tiredness, constipation, feeling unusually cold, menstrual changes, or other new symptoms.

   And for anyone, someone who:

   • has noticed a lump, a mole that has changed, or unexplained weight loss
   Yes, one of theseNo, none of these

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Weight gain – unintentional. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.